Georgia golfers sweep FSU Match-Up Tournament

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Led by co-medalist Rocio Sanchez Lobato, the No. 16 Georgia women's golf team completed its wire-to-wire sweep of the team, individual and Match-Up titles at the Florida State Match-Up Tournament at the Southwood Golf Course on Sunday.

"I knew we were playing pretty well and I knew Oklahoma had two players struggling, but it's really hard to know for sure until the end," first-year head coach Josh Brewer said following his first team title with the Bulldogs. "I didn't look at the live scoring because I thought it would make me a wreck. When we talked last night, I reminded them that we were leading the tournament with about four holes to play yesterday and just didn't finish. I thought if we went out today and played well, we'd have a chance. Other than the end of the day yesterday, I think we had proven we were playing the best of anyone in the field this weekend."

Sanchez Lobato finished the 54-hole event at 2-under 214 and tie with Tennessee's Erica Popson for the individual title.

"A tournament victory is exciting for Ro and a big feather in her cap," Brewer said. "Hopefully, this will continue to build her confidence. She played pretty consistent throughout the weekend. She just didn't make as many putts the last two days as she did on Friday. It's tough to play in the lead that long, though, with a target on your back. I'm not sure but I don't think there was a point this weekend when she wasn't in the lead. That's very difficult to do. I know she's excited about bouncing back after struggling a bit in the fall."

The Bulldogs' 1-under 287 on Sunday vaulted them past No. 6 Oklahoma and Florida State. Georgia wrapped up at 13-over 877, four shots better than the Sooners, who began the day with a six-stroke lead on the field.

For good measure, the Bulldogs and Sooners teamed to also win the tournament's Match-Up competition.

Senior Emilie Burger was the catalyst in the Bulldogs' second under-par team tally of the season. She fired a final round 4-under 68. Freshman Kailey Walsh added a 1-under 71 and the 74s by Sanchez Lobato and Manuela Carbajo Ré rounded out Georgia's scoring tallies. Amira Alexander's 75 was the Bulldogs' drop score, while Collins Bradshaw, who was competing as an individual, shot 78.

Four Bulldog golfers finished among the top-20 individuals. Following Sanchez Lobato, Carbajo Ré tied for sixth at 1-over 217, Burger tied for 14th at 224 and Walsh tied for 18th at 225. In addition, Bradshaw tied for 39th at 232 and Alexander tied for 42nd at 233.

"Having depth is so important," Brewer said. "Everyone shot 75 or better for us at some point this weekend. We threw out a 75 today. That's impressive and it's a great sign for us going forward."

Burger teed off from No. 3 on the shotgun start and quickly moved to 4-under with birdies at No. 4 and No. 5 and an eagle-2 at No. 7. Another birdie at No. 12 pushed her to 5-under, but she gave that stroke back with her lone bogey of the day at No. 14.

"Emilie started the weekend with huge expectations and may have gotten in her own way some," Brewer said. "She played great today, though. She chipped in from about 45 or 50 yards out early for an eagle and that settled her down. She played like a senior is supposed to play. She stepped up when we needed her."

Walsh's loop also was extremely steady. After teeing off at No. 2, she birdied No. 4 and bogeyed No. 7 to hit the back side of the course at even. Seven pars, a bogey at No. 12 and a birdie at No. 15 left her at even through No. 18. Walsh finished her round in red numbers after a birdie at her final hole of the day, No. 1.

Trailing the Bulldogs and the Sooners on the team leaderboard were Tennessee at 882, Florida State at 893, Furman at 897, No. 21 Texas A&M at 900, No. 15 Notre Dame at 906, Texas-San Antonio at 909, Michigan at 918, Kansas at 921, UNC Greensboro at 932 and UNC Wilmington at 937.

Each day, the two teams' low four individual rounds and their high individual tally comprised their Match-Up score. UGA and OU posted a 4-over 364 on Sunday and finished at 14-over 1094, 19 shots better than the runner-up duo of Tennessee and Texas-San Antonio.

The Bulldogs will return to action in three weeks when they travel to Hilton Head Island, S.C., to compete in the second annual Darius Rucker Intercollegiate.